E-DRUG: Rational Drug Policy and management course
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Dear colleagues,
we are pleased to announce the international training course on:
RATIONAL DRUG POLICY AND MANAGEMENT- THE CHALLENGE OF DISEASES OF POVERTY
26 September- 7 October 2005
Ifakara
Tanzania
Organised jointly by the Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) Basel and the
Department of Tropical Hygiene & Public Health (ATHVG) of the University
of Heidelberg.
CONTENTS OVERVIEW
Health is an intrinsic human right as well as a central input to poverty
reduction and socioeconomic development. Cost-effective interventions
including drugs for controlling major diseases exist, but a lack of
money for health and a range of system constraints hamper efforts to
expand health services to the poor.
From penicillin to insulin, antiseptics to antiretrovirals, science
including drugs have led to dramatic improvements in health worldwide. Yet the main diseases of poverty such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis continue to claim innumerable lives in the developing world. Drugs are an essential and cost-effective tool of health care and an important element of health systems. The number and type of drugs on the world market is constantly increasing, while financial resources for health care services in general remain limited or decrease. Today, for millions of people
worldwide essential drugs remain unavailable and unaffordable.
Irrational drug use is a global public health problem and poor quality
drugs are an additional barrier to equitable access to drugs. Millions
of adults and children die each year from treatable and preventable
diseases.
Reducing the illness and premature mortality experienced by poor people
contributes to poverty reduction. It is about getting well-tested and
effective control interventions such as drugs to the people who need
them, whether by reducing their costs, promoting research and
development, improving their distribution, increasing their efficacy and
acceptability, or slowing down the development of antimicrobial
resistance.But, today these drugs dont reach all who need them, and
there is a need to develop better strategies that ensure better access.
Rational drug policy and management is one approach to tackle these
problems and is critically important in view of constrained health
budgets and to achieve efficiency, equity and quality of health care in
pluralistic health systems.
OBJECTIVES
To enable health professionals to understand and apply the concepts and
principles of essential drugs and rational drug policy and management
with a focus on the diseases of poverty HIV/Aids, malaria and
tuberculosis, to recognise the need for a national and international
drug policy environment, to improve knowledge and to apply practical
field experience for rational drug management within different health
system contexts.
COURSE TOPICS
Historical evolution and current global drug situation in different
health care systems
Concept of essential drugs and its relevance in primary health care
Concept and principles of rational drug management in pluralistic and
reforming health systems
Roles of different stakeholders including health workers, traditional
healers, research organisations and the pharmaceutical industry
The international context, global treaties and national drug policy
Treatment guidelines, essential drug lists and personal drug lists
Patterns of drug use, strategies for the promotion of rational drug
use and community drug use
Antimicrobial resistance and approaches for containment
Drug quality and quality assurance
Rational management of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis related
treatment within their respective global initiatives
Framework and components of a drug supply system including procurement
and distribution
Elements of drug costs, affordability and financing options
Critical drug information management
TARGET GROUP
Health professionals and managers with experience (at least two years)
in the health sector and in the pharmaceutical sector.
DURATION
2 weeks (90 hours student investment time).
Equivalent to 3 ECTS points towards the tropEd European Master in
International Health.
COURSE FORMAT
The course language is English. The course combines lectures, in-depth
discussions of case studies, short presentations, small group exercises
and field visits. The course is highly participatory and participants
will be exposed to a wide range of international experiences and materials.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please fill in the application form carefully and include all required
documents.
COURSE FEE
The total course fee is CHF 1500.- (Swiss Francs) and must be paid 4
weeks before the start of the course. This sum includes the registration
fee (CHF 100.-) which is due at the moment of acceptance. If a
participant does not attend the course, the registration fee cannot be
reimbursed. If cancellation is less than 4 weeks before beginning of the
course an additional fee of CHF 500.- will be charged. Cost for
international flights and accommodation/full board in Ifakara must be
added. Details on the prices can be given on request
There are only very limited scholarships available for this course.
LOCATION
Ifakara Training Centre
Ifakara
Tanzania
COURSE FACULTY
The course is facilitated by international and national experts. The
academic panel will include a number of highly experienced professionals
from WHO, MEDUNSA, Heidelberg, Phasuma and STI.
COURSE COORDINATORS
Dr. Karin Wiedenmayer (STI)
www.sti.ch
Dr. Reinhard Huss (Heidelberg)
www.hyg.uni-heidelberg.de/ithoeg/teaching
CONTACT ADDRESS
Swiss Tropical Institute
Course Secretariat
Socinstrasse 57
P.O Box
CH - 4002 Basel / Switzerland
Tel.: + 41 61 284 82 80
Fax: + 41 61 284 81 06
E-mail: courses-sti@unibas.ch
www.sti.ch
THE SWISS TROPICAL INSTITUTE
The Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) was founded in 1943. The STI offers
an interdisciplinary approach to research, teaching and services in the
field of International Health.
The aim of the STI is to contribute to the improvement of the health of
populations internationally and nationally through excellence in
research, services and teaching and training. The activities of the
Institute in the framework of its national and international mandates
has led to its world-wide recognition in the field of International Health.
The STI has significant expertise in the pharmaceutical sector with both
teaching and training, research, clinical trials, services and in
international development cooperation. The unit Teaching and Training
offers postgraduate courses in various topics for health staff.
TROPED
A collaborative network of 27 Tropical Institutes and related
institutions in 13 different countries in Europe offers a joint modular
Masters Curriculum in International Health (MIH). The Diploma Course
Health Care and Management in Tropical Countries HCMTC at STI is
equivalent to the core course for this degree.
Candidates for the Masters degree will be required to take further
advanced modules in at least 2 other network-institutions and to carry
out a master thesis according to MIH requirements. The whole curriculum
corresponds to one year full time work. The modular structure allows the
studies to be spread over 5 years.
For further information: www.troped.org
--
Karin Wiedenmayer, MSc, PharmD
Swiss Tropical Institute
Swiss Center for International Health
Socinstrasse 57
4002 Basel
Switzerland
T +41 61 284 81 26
F +41 61 271 86 54